Time Passes, Paca Poop and Knitting

I know I say this a lot: Where does the time go? October and November were very busy (see previous post) but are now in the past. Thanksgiving in Texas was great. We spent two weeks helping David’s brother and sister in law set up their alpaca ranch (what is the difference between a ranch and a farm?). I loved being on the ranch everyday, working with the animals, scooping poop, cleaning garden beds (I could have done without the copper head!) and pastures. The ranch is Peeka Ranch in Burton,Texas and now has 14 alpaca. It is a very ambitious start but they are doing very well.

I have done a lot of knitting. Small projects but it is so satisfying to have finished objects in hours or days. Here are a few items:

This is the Baby Sqash Hat by Tamara Del Sonno. (Yup that is a gourd it is on)

 

This one is the Garter Stitch Loop-through scarf by Marci Richardson. (both done in same yarn – a 100% alpaca, hand dyed).

 

This one is Blanket Buddy by Mary Anne Thompson (I actually made 2 of these), this is The Alpaca Yarn Company’s Snuggle. All of these patterns are in 101 Designer One Skein Wonders.

Other knitting I have done: I started a Swallow Tail Shawl (I’ll post pictures and tell the tale next time) and I am making a pair of fingerless gloves (gauntlets really) for a woman who will give them to her husband for Christmas (he has MS and his hands and arms are always cold in the house). My own design and very easy. I promise to post pictures of these also.

My on-line store (www.Nightingalefibers.com) is beginning to see more traffic. I advertised on Ravelry in October and November and will probably do so again in January. I would like to do more fiber festivals next year, some are very hard to get into, they have limited space and the vendors who have been doing the festivals are locked in. I will get my name on the lists and see what happens.

David has healed well since his surgery to repair his Achilles tendon. He wore his air cast until last week and is getting around fine. He sees his surgeon in a few weeks and will probably not tell him what he has been doing the past few weeks (working on the ranch). But I think he was very careful and except me dropping a heavy barn mat on his feet he did not do anything to jeopardize his recovery.

Here are a couple of pictures of Peeka Ranch to end with:

 

 

 

 

“Not to do any evil, To cultivate good, To purify one’s mind – - This is the advise of the Buddhas” Dhamma pada

Cynthia